Online Activity - Educational Utilization of the Internet

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Although the Internet has been around for some time, it is a relatively new tool in the education world. While it can be an amazing resource and motivational tool, there are certain responsibilities that go along with using it in a classroom. The mission of the International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE, states their goal to advance excellence in learning and teaching through innovative and effective uses of technology. Click here to read more on the subject of research on internet use in the classroom

Education and the Internet in the 21st Century: 4 Basic Roles

1. Students learn to make use of the Internet as an aid to retrieving information from multiple sources.
2. Students learn to use the Internet as an aid to communicating with and collaborating with people throughout the world.
3. Students learn to develop web materials, especially as a component of project-based learning that is rooted in constructivism and in cooperative learning.
4. Students learn in an IT-Assisted Project-based Learning environment, with the Internet playing a major supportive role.

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) and Performance Indicators
Student Standards
Teacher Standards
Administrator Standards

Technology Standards in Maryland
Student Standards

Teacher Standards.doc

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Administrator Standards.doc

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Considerations and Concerns with Using the Internet in the Classroom

1. Inappropriate people and information - the following designates three broad rules or ideas on using the Internet appropriately in the classroom:
   1. Only allow students Internet access under strict and careful adult supervision.
   2. Require that student access to the Web be filtered through blocking or filtering software designed to prevent access to inappropriate Web sites. There is a substantial amount of literature discussing the pros and cons of blocking software. Before schools provide Internet access, many schools and libraries require the installation of blocking software. A good starting point for finding information on this topic is to search the Web using one or more of the common search engines available for this task.
   3. Educate students and their parents about what constitutes appropriate and acceptable use of the Web, e-mail, and other components of the Internet. Require parents and students to sign an Acceptable Use Policy. (ISTE 2009)
2. Learning the internet takes time (for both teachers and young students)
3. Just because it is there, doesn't mean it is free, or you can use it - the following links take you to information about copyright and Creative Common laws:
   • Creative Commons is a non profit organization that works that works to increase the amount of creativity (cultural, educational , and scientific content" in "the commons" -- the body of work that is available to the public for free and legal sharing, use, repurposing, and remixing.
     1. Creative Commons Education Projects
     2. Flickr Creative Commons
   • Copyright Laws
     1. Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers
     2. Copyright and Fair Use in the Classroom, on the Internet, and the World Wide Web
4. The Digital Divide
   • Learn more about the Digital Divide

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